US tightening noose around Iran neck?

Islam Times: Although the US administration has already imposed a series of sanctions against Iran, "A Republican-controlled congressional committee has recently heard testimony demanding an extensive range of covert operations against the country" under the false pretext of Tehran's involvement in a plot to assassinate Saudi envoy to Washington, Ismail Salami said.

Salami argued that these covert operations, which range from cyber attacks to political assassinations, have actually started a long time ago, when the US Congress agreed to former US President George W. Bush to fund a major increase in covert operations against Iran in 2007.

The Iranian political analyst referred to remarks by the intelligence officials who spoke to the Blotter on ABCNews.com, saying that the CIA was given a presidential approval to commence its covert 'black' operations inside Iran in 2007, and about $400 million was allocated to damage the Islamic Republic's government, which gave the CIA free rein to engage in any sabotaging activities against Iran.

Salami noted that the US has been carrying out many covert operations to that effect since 2007 -- assassinating several Iranian scientists, including Massoud Ali-Mohammadi and Majid Shahriari, throwing support behind minority Ahwazi Arab and Baluchis and other opposition groups as well as gathering intelligence on Iranian nuclear sites, to name a few.

He further pointed to a series of recent statements which have added to the hate rhetoric against the Islamic Republic.

On Wednesday, at a hearing of two key subcommittees of the House Committee on Homeland Security, retired Army General John Keane said, “We've got to put our hand around their throat now. Why don't we kill them? We kill other people who kill others.”

Salami also quoted bizarre remarks of New York Congressman Peter King, who suggested that the US should kick out Iranian officials at the UN in New York and Washington, and mentioned that the UN is considered an independent international body and that the US has no authority over it.

The political analyst noted the fact that US government's resorting to covert black operations against Iran rules out the possibility of a military strike against the country, adding that Washington cannot afford another war considering its economic woes.

Salami also referred to reports about repeated requests by US ambassadors in Islamabad to open a consulate in the province of Baluchistan, which can be construed as a suspicious demand from the US since Baluchistan is strategically important as it is a harbor for the anti-Iran terrorist group, Jundullah, an offshoot of the terrorist group al-Qaida.

He said that Washington greatly favors the establishment of a 'Greater Baluchistan' which would integrate the Baluch areas of Pakistan with those of Iran into a single political entity to suit the interests of Washington, one which is the continuation of US sabotaging activities within Iran.

Earlier in 2007, the Blotter on ABCNews.com revealed the role of the US government in backing the terrorist Iranian group, responsible for a number of gruesome assassinations of the Iranian civilians on the Iran-Pakistan-Afghanistan border, which claimed the lives of many women and children.

Salami went on to say that although US officials deny any 'direct funding' of the terrorist group, they acknowledge that they are in contact with the leader of the group on a regular basis.

"Isn't it paradoxical that Jundullah terrorist group, an offshoot of al-Qaeda, is supported by the US government which keeps bandying about its so-called 'war on terror' in the world?" Salami asks.